Tim Blair (he’s a Sydney blogger) takes a swing:
Parliament was subdued yesterday following news that nine Australians had been killed in a plane crash on their way to Kokoda. Crikey editor Jonathan Green didn’t share that mood, however:
were all govt MP’s coached on striking a suitably grief struck tone? a fine piece of ensemble work. wonderfully sustained.
As Parliamentary discussion moved on to other subjects, Green – displaying his usual sensitivity – saw another chance for mockery:
an interjection! have these people no heart! don’t they realise Aussie Pilgrims have died this day?
“Aussie Pilgrims”! Ha. Let’s laugh along with Jonathan. And then:
this remains a government in mourning. it’s as if prince albert had just dropped off the twig.
He’s all class, this bloke:
so if we get nine killed in a multi car pile up on the princes highway this evening will all government slump into collective despair?
Well, it’s only nine dead Australians. No big deal. Stand by for another apology.
No apology. I stand by the point. The over reaction to these sad deaths has been absurd and distasteful. It is not sincerely meant. It is opportunist, postured and cynical. The grief of parents and friends in these instances is a genuine visceral impulse. The contrived acts of professional faux empathy in our parliament and the wallowing mawkish meal made of it in the newspapers is offensive. A calculated gush of nothing sincere. They were decent folk who died doing something fun. And I’m sorry that they’re gone. I feel for their poor folks. But I’m honest enough to admit — and recall my own moments of genuine misery too clearly — that I feel nothing even remotely like their pain. I know I don’t. Neither does Rudd. Or the editor of the Daily Telegraph. What a load of crap.
11 Comments
Go you good thing!
Next thing you know Aussie tourists who die abroad (or perhaps while climbing Uluru) will be eulogised as heroes – just because they’re there.
Well said.
Is Blair the editor of the DT now? Imagine that – a newspaper whose editor is less literate than all his readers combined.
A “fine piece of ensemble work. wonderfully sustained” says the nuasea inducing Green.
Ponticating on as usual from his very own imaginary dais like a vicious drama queen.
At least Sandilands accepted some responsibility.
I agree with Tim.
A “fine piece of ensemble work. wonderfully sustained” says the nausea inducing Green.
Pontificating as usual from his very own imaginary dais like a vicious drama queen.
At least Kyle Sandilands recognised the reality, however incompletely, of his disingenuous ignorance.
I agree with Tim.
Seems Blair’s banned me – again. I pointed out to him that it wasn’t ‘only nine Australians’ that perished, but thirteen human beings. I also mentioned how both sides of the House used the tragedy for some politicised ‘grieving’ with Turnbull even milking the occasion to gain a bit of personal sympathy by reminding Australia how he too had suffered devastating loss when his father was killed in an aircraft accident a few years back. This got a few commentators noses it seems.
In the end I pointed out to him that supposedly open bloggers only ban people when they feel threatened by the commentator that attempts to expose these people for the racists and bigots that they actually are. It was at that point that Blair banned me. He obviously felt very threatened by me.
Anyway, as you say, you’ve got absolutely nothing to apologise for; indeed, if anyone should apologise, it should be Blair for ignoring entirely the other four human beings that perished.
But don’t hold your breath.
I agree, over moderation by bloggers has got to stop…
Why just a few months ago I was on a blog where I tried to put forward a constructive argument in the comments, and my post was outright blocked. I think the blog was called “Telling the History of the Twenty-First Century as it Really is” by some bloke named Lataan…
…oh wait…
Is this the same Tim Blair who has never apologised for anything in his life?
I hate ponticating. It makes me nuaseas.
“The grief of parents and friends in these instances is a genuine visceral impulse. The contrived acts of professional faux empathy in our parliament and the wallowing mawkish meal made of it in the newspapers is offensive.”
Spot On Jonathan. And on the subject of pontification, could Rudd stop offering prayers on my behalf? We don’t live in a frakin’ theocracy.
Seldom have you written a truer thing. The mass meltdown by the garbage elements of the media-even the ABC try it on-is depressing, if for no other reason than it’s patent hypocrisy, is gut-throwing stuff.
It is all part of this Anzac day tripe which JWH massaged into the more gullible members of the public. Our John, our Norm, our Gladys, our Kym, our Maddy may have some element of self-respect left intact. But by the time the HS has processed it, the audience’s mild pity coagulates into loathing embarrassment.